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Hi, I got the census form and have a question as to how you all are filling it out. So question number #5 asks for Spanish origin, etc. I understood that and put down Guatemalan for my children. However, #6 asks for race. There is no box for Spanish, Hispanic, etc. Above it says that Hispanic origins are not considered races for this census. Am I supposed to be checking "white" for #6? It seems weird to be checking that as their races but I'm not sure what else to put. There is an "other" box to write in a race, but I'm not sure what to put there because they aren't considering hispanic origins as a race. How have you all handled? Thanks.
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Devora
Are you really Caucasian?
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SKL
Here's what I wrote. Me: Some other race: "Caucasion" (I am not white). Kids: Yes, other Hispanic: "Born in Guatemala"; Some other race: "Indigenous American." Enough info for them to figure it out. I am very suspicious of the separate question about Hispanic origin. I smell a huge agenda. The whole race/ethnicity business has me quite irritated. It takes up the majority of the census. I'd leave it blank if I thought it was allowed.
Devora
Are you really Caucasian? That term technically refers to the following people: Abkhazians (including Abazins)Adyghe (including Kabardins and modern day Cherkes)UbykhAvarsAgulsDarginsKhinalugLaksLezginsBatsKistsChechensIngushRutulsTabasaransTsakhursUdinsArchinsGeorgiansAdjariansSvansMingreliansLazsIn physical anthropology it's used a bit differently, but in terms of social demographics these are the people who are Caucasian. It's a term that's been used in the US to refer to anyone of European descent, but that's not actually correct.
For what it is worth, here is how I responded. My son's referral information stated 'nonindigenous', but I know that his birth mother did not speak Spanish as her first language (and we have no information on birth father). From what I've read, there is no 'right or wrong' answer to these questions - it is how one identifies himself/herself. #8 - Is person of Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin?Checked 'Yes - another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin' and wrote in 'Guatemalan'. #9 - What is person's race?Since it says you can check more than one, I checked 'White' and 'Some Other Race' and wrote in 'Mayan'.
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I did not think anything of the questions on the census when I first read it, but then after a while I thought - they ask "are you hispanic/latino"? And then what I was thinking when I read the next question was - if you answer YES you are hispanic/latino, the government says - well, we don't want you to be hispanic/latino, so pick something else! Unbelievable. We will answer - OTHER for our beautiful hispanic/latino son!
Patgary, the categories selected for placement on the census were done to incorporate choices suggested by minority groups themselves, including hispanic/latinos. Race and ethnicity are NOT the same thing, and that is why there are two separate questions. As one example, there are, in fact, black hispanics and white hispanics. I am not sure why racial or ethnic categories are needed on the census anymore, though there seem to be some hand-waving explanations around that. At the same time, I don't see any agenda by the government related to asking these questions. I also don't understand the objections to the census in this day and age when folks will tweet, blog, or post any personal information that pops into their heads but refuse to check a box on a form from the government.
erinelway
Race and ethnicity are NOT the same thing, and that is why there are two separate questions. As one example, there are, in fact, black hispanics and white hispanics.
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If ethnicity is important enough to be one of the very few questions on the census, then why is only Hispanic ethnicity counted? Are there no other ethnicities in the USA than Hispanic and Not-Hispanic? Also, the way they ask it goes beyond ethincity. They have decided that if your country of origin is on their list, your ethicity is Hispanic, and I don't agree with that. As is often pointed out, many of our kids' birth moms don't even speak Spanish; aside from the fact that many have been living in the USA in non-Hispanic families since before they could walk, speak, or eat an ethnic Guatemalan meal. Yet the census says our kids' ethnicity is Hispanic. Whatever they are trying to count, they seem to be going about it the wrong way.
I have two children who are "Hispanic", but.... It was interesting to try to fill out the form for the census. One is "Hispanic" of Mexican origin, but the other is more complex and I wasn't sure how to figure it all out! Wish I'd read this thread FIRST. :D Neither is from Guatamala, so I didn't think to look on this forum for info. :rolleyes:
These questions always stymie me, in every place I'm asked them. My children are at least 50% or more Hispanic; my dh and I are both of European origin, several countries each. BUT we are all Caucasian, as Hispanic is an ethnic group as part of Caucasian from what I've read. Yes, I can report their ACTUAL ethnic background, down to the percents, but there's so much more to the picture if I try to get my brain around it. As soon as we add, "how are our children being raised?", the picture changes. They are being raised in a predominantly Caucasian environment and even though they know their full story and visit with birthfamilies, they don't think of themselves as Hispanic -- even though our family has a deeper understanding of Hispanic culture/history/foods/etc. than their birthfamilies. I figure it's my children's choices as they grow up to decide how they want to identify. It's their information to select. I suppose at the crux of it for me is why do I need to define my children's multi-ethnic origin for the census? How does that assist any program that we'll never have a need for based on their ethnicity or race? I work with multi-ethnic and multi-racial students at a university daily and those students have all taught me that their ethnicity and race is their information to choose when they share it -- and how they celebrate it all. Then, I have to mark one or two little boxes on a form -- My pen hovered over those boxes, left the room, came back. It really isn't rocket science but for an adoptive mom, it drives me crazy! susan
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Oh I remember that from last time.With 16 bodies it gets interesting. Anna
mevertin
I discovered if you have more than 6 people in your family #7 and on are "other people in the household" and you don't even fill in the "race/ethnicity" question. Mary mom to Bobby 12, Bridget 11, Angela 9, Eddie 5 (home 2005) and Naldo 2 (home Feb. 08)
It's their information to select. I suppose at the crux of it for me is why do I need to define my children's multi-ethnic origin for the census? How does that assist any program that we'll never have a need for based on their ethnicity or race? I work with multi-ethnic and multi-racial students at a university daily and those students have all taught me that their ethnicity and race is their information to choose when they share it -- and how they celebrate it all.